Manamana

Jim Henson is a genius.  That’s a given.  He will be forever immortalized with his creation of the Muppets. This clip is from the first episode of The Muppet Show.  I don’t know what the hell a "manamana" is but this sketch never ceases to make me smile.

Thanks to SpartanElite of YouTube for uploading this funny gem. 

Enjoy and sing along.

"Manamana…do-do-dododo…."

A Touch-less Romance

                       The cast of Pushing Daisies 

What if you had the power to bring the dead back to life with just a simple touch? What if that awesome power came with a caveat? First touch, life.  Second touch, permanent death and not touching the person/thing that you just revived within a span of a minute, another within proximity dies in his/its place. What if you fell in love with the girl next door but due to circumstances which include unintentionally causing her father's death, you grew apart, but meet her again, nineteen years later, as a dead corpse?  What if with your magic touch, you bring her back to life and then you realize, with just one look into those gorgeous eyes, that she is the love of your life and you can't bear to part with her again.  What if you love her to pieces but you can never ever touch her, much more hold her hand or kiss.

                       Ned 'petting' his dog, Digby

Such is the premise of ABC's new show "Pushing Daisies". I was able to watch its pilot episode and instantly I fell in love with this quirky series created by Bryan Fuller and directed by Men In Black director, Barry Sonnenfeld.  I love the amusingly strange fairy tale romance between Ned, the pie-maker with the life-giving touch and Chuck, the pretty, formerly-dead girl next door. You can see even from the very first episode that the two characters are smitten with one another.  It's the stuff reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty, (Though somehow all the pies kind of remind me of the witches' cottage in Hansel and Gretel) but with a "Wonderfalls" feel to it. (Which coincidentally was also created by Bryan Fuller). I love the script, the primary color-based cinematography, the wonderful narration of Jim Dale (of Harry Potter audio book fame) and most especially the interesting chemistry between lead actors, Lee Pace and Anna Friel. Pace's innocent boyish look is to die for (it's okay because he can bring me back to life, anyway ^___^) while Friel is beautifully smart. Plus, I also have a thing for couples where the guy towers over the girl. (Gives hope for us barely five feet women, nyahahahaha)  

                      Kissing monkeys

 So how do you love someone and not touch her?  How can you content yourself with just exchanging knowing looks and bittersweet smiles?  Let's turn the table around.  What if  you're smitten  with a guy and want very much  to touch his cheek, kiss his lips  or  have  those long limbs around you, but you just can't because it would mean the death of you?   I love the part when Ned asked Emerson to give Chuck a hug and then bashfully said, "That's from me."  How freakin' sweet is that!  Or the part where they held their own hands behind their backs pretending that they are holding each other. The question is will a love thrive without  touch? Without a kiss? Without making love? Or will all that sexual frustration make the heart grow fonder? These are interesting questions worth expounding with the added dash of a murder plot on the side. This makes Pushing Daisies one hell of a very promising series. 

I'm rooting for Ned and Chuck.   I hope this 'touch-less romance' works. 

May their love be warm and sweet as pie.   

May it blossom and flourish like daisies.

Credits: photos from the ABC website, YouTube video by daemonstv 

Hanging Out at Avenue Q

Like any child from the seventies, I grew up on Sesame Street. Even up to now I can still sing "Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away" and recite Wanda the Witch by heart.  I have always loved Jim Henson's Muppets and admired how puppeteers bring these muppets to life. 

Avenue Q is a tribute to Sesame Street. It's definitely for that Sesame Street fan who grew up.  I learned about the Broadway musical Avenue Q when, in a rare experience, the 2004 Tony Awards was broadcast on Philippine Television.  One of the shows highlights was the original cast of Avenue Q performing "It Sucks To Be Me".  Avenue Q won Best Musical that night.  Right there and then, I wanted to watch the entire musical. However, what are the odds of a middle income Filipina hopping on a plane to New York and watching a Tony Award winning Broadway play?  Zilch.

Then  early this year my obsession with Avenue Q began.  It all started when I searched for Avenue Q videos on YouTube.  It's a blessing that someone uploaded the Royal Variety performance of the Avenue Q London Cast . I especially love Julie Atherton's performance as Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut.  I must have played that video more than ten times.

Then I started reading up on lots of articles about the show. The Avenue Q Wikipedia entry gave the perfect backdrop for the musical. I downloaded the songs and listened to them over and over.  The obsession grew and grew to the point of distraction. And in a  stroke of luck, I found a torrent link of the entire show featuring the original Broadway cast and downloaded it. (I do not promote piracy but one has to understand my odds of catching it on Broadway.  Simply put, I CANNOT  afford it.)  The video was poor, filmed with a hidden video camera presumably, but the audio was good.  I loaded it on my iPod and for almost two hours, I reveled in Avenue Q. I laughed, cried and felt oneness with the show.  I totally related to it: the quarter-life crisis, love and relationships and the need to find one's purpose.

The performance of Stephanie D'Abruzzo, (Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut), John Tartaglia (Princeton/Rod)  and Rick Lyon (Trekkie Monster, Nicky, Bear) were magical. Notably, D'Abruzzo, Tartaglia and Lyon were puppeteers on Sesame Street with Lyon designing all of the puppet characters of Avenue Q. That's why their control of the puppets gave each character personality and life.  Perfect animation of puppets right before your eyes.   The songs of Avenue Q are so fascinating with just the right tinge of Sesame Street flavor that one can't help but sing along. My favorites include "It Sucks to be Me", "The Internet is For Porn" and the poignant "There's a Fine Fine Line".  

Fast track to August this year. I discovered that Atlantis Productions will be bringing Avenue Q to Manila.  I was excited but at the same time skeptical.  The cast led by Rachel Alejandro, Felix Rivera and Joel Trinidad are great singers and actors but they're not known to be puppeteers. The ability to control and  animate  puppets and then act and sing at the same time is a tall order.  But I had faith in the Filipino talent so I can't wait to watch Avenue Q, live! 

My sister and I got tickets for the September 23, 2007 matinee.   It was a challenge going to RCBC Plaza and after two traffic violations (my sister made two illegal U-turns as traffic rules in Makati sucks!), we finally made it just in time.   In that small, and almost Siberia-freezing theater (I was suffering  from a bad cold that time), I  visited Avenue Q in Manila. 

I must say that Atlantis' production of Avenue Q is up to par.  Of the performances, it was Joel Trinidad's version of Trekkie Monster and Nicky and Felix Rivera as Princeton and Rod that stood out. I loved Trinidad as Trekkie! His control of Trekkie together with Teenee Chan is quite remarkable with all the shaking and lewd gestures typical of the pervert Trekkie. It actually reminded me of Lyon's version.      

Felix Rivera was also great as Princeton but I love him better as Rod.  His rendition of "My Girlfriend Who Lives In Canada" is pristine. He shifts from Princeton to Rod with ease.  I also enjoyed Trinidad and Rivera when they sang "The Money Song". Watch out for Nicky's gestures here.  It's a riot.

Rachel Alejandro as Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut was quite all right. She was remarkable in the song "Mix Tape" and totally captured Kate's shyness and giddiness over her feelings for Princeton.  Her rendition of my favorite "There's a Fine Fine Line" is heart wrenching you could actually feel Kate's pain(Actually, the sadness is reminiscent of her rendition of her song "Forever and a Day"). One thing I noticed though is that her puppets lack a tinge of animation (just a tinge). It may be because of her lack of experience or the puppet may be too big for her slight frame. And I was slightly disappointed with Lucy's "Special" not because of Rachel's acting or singing( which is perfect!) but the lack of movement of the puppet.   

Noticeably, the puppets in this version are larger than the ones in the Broadway play (Or perhaps the actors have smaller bodies than their Caucasian counterparts). This factor and the actors' lack of puppeteer experience may contribute to the slight lack of animation.  This is the key point that the Manila cast should improve on: giving the puppets more life.  Nevertheless, their present puppet performances. though not quite Sesame Street -quality, were quite good. 

In a stroke of brilliant casting, Frenchie Dy as Christmas Eve and Aiza Seguerra as Gary Coleman are two thumbs up: Perfect. Rycharde Everley and Teenee Chan provide apt performances as Bryan and one of the Bad Idea Bears respectively. 

In fine, my visit to Manila's Avenue Q was an enriching and engaging experience. I feel honored that I was able  to catch this great show. I admire Atlantis Productions for bringing the show here in order for Filipinos like me who do not have the funds to go to Broadway can watch it. My sister and I had a grand time we even asked Director Bobby Garcia and the rest of the cast to sign our souvenir program.  We took pictures with them too. (Talk about fangirling). Felix Rivera and Joel Trinidad were especially friendly.  Joel Trinidad was even thoughtful enough to ask someone to take a picture so that my sister and I can have a photo with him. He also told us that Avenue Q will have a second run in December.  We're going to watch it again for sure.  

Once you've hang out in Avenue Q, you can't help but go back again.  

It’s My Day

In exactly four hours from now, I'll be turning thirty-six.  At 6:05 am, on September 14, 1971 was my first taste of this world.  I often wonder how I looked like when I was born.  All gray and wrinkly perhaps. I wonder what I sounded like, and looked like in living color.  But alas, I was born in the era of black and white. Back in the days when videocams were inexistent.  But judging from old photographs, I was quite a pretty child, who smiles shyly with her plump cheeks and expressive eyes.  Gosh, I could not believe I was once this pristine, this innocent and pure. 

I was a quiet kid, as my mother told me once.  I hardly cried and was less fussy.  My mom said it was easier to take care of my twin sis and me rather than my younger brother and sister.   

Our family did not have much, but my twin and I had a great childhood.  I remember my twin being my constant playmate. We played dolls and blocks, drew on walls and pretended to cook with toy kitchenware and grass.  We used to catch dragonflies,  dig for earthworms and watch mosquito larvae in uncovered canals.  We watched a lot of Sesame Street, Voltes V, Daimos, Candy Candy and the like. I remember Kindergarten at my old school, Immaculate Heart of Mary College.  I loved being there because there were a lot of toys and my teacher Ms. Nagtalon was very pretty.  

How time really flies. When you get to be my age, you tend to be quite nostalgic of the past.  Even though thirty-six is relatively young, you can't help but look back at your life.  You now have a history of sorts.  A chronology of events that shaped you into what you are now.  I look at myself and can honestly say that I turned out pretty okay. Not screwed up (thank goodness) but a fruitful member of society (naks!).  

I used to feel depressed every time I celebrate my birthday.  But not now. (Quite surprised too.) I guess I finally feel good in my own skin.  Perhaps it's that optimism for life.  Why dwell on what I don't have? I'd rather celebrate my life, the love I get from my family and friends, the challenges of my profession, the beauty and profoundness of life.  

Lol, I'm so perky it's sickening.  I'm looking forward to my day today.  Fuck, this is my day! 

Woohoooo!

Happy Birthday McBeal!  

A Hollow Triumph

September 12, 2007.  This day will go down in Philippine history as the day the Sandiganbayan found former President Joseph E. Estrada guilty of plunder and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua. I am not surprised by the verdict. Nevertheless, I am very interested to read the entire decision.  It's an interest any lawyer would have as this is the very first plunder case and it involves a former President of the Republic.  I downloaded a copy of the decision at the Sandiganbayan website and converted it to Word. It's freakin' 295 pages! Nevertheless, I will find time to read it. 

Like I said, I am not surprised by the verdict. It feels like a hollow triumph though. I cannot help but be cynical about the whole deal since although a big fish like Erap is a great catch, bigger fishes are still out there…the Marcos Billions, the PEA-Amari Deal and Hello Garci scandal still remain unresolved and unpunished. (All involving Philippine presidents by the way)  Could it be that these presidents have better friends?  Could it be they are just better at covering their tracks? Could it be this triumph is just the triumph of the elite, a reminder that they, after all, rule this country and no better than make this fact known but to beat Erap, the hero of the masses?  

Graft and corruption is deeply embedded in Philippine society. The decision in the Erap plunder case will hardly cure this disease that is eating away the very soul of Philippine politics.  It is everywhere from the President, to senators, to congressmen, to the traffic policeman.  It is a sad  and depressing reality especially for a government employee  like  me.  It is discouraging for all those  working in government who stay clean  and who serve the public despite  the low pay  and the common perception that people in government are as corrupt as its leaders. 

Ironically, the verdict called for the forfeiture of Erap's millions in favor of the government. I had this vision of the money going straight to the pockets of our corrupt leaders while the rest of the country are bearing the brunt of their ill-doings. It's a vicious, vicious cycle.  And considering the fucked state our country is in, one can't help but lose hope, pack his bag and leave this country for good.  

Yet somewhere in the recesses of my heart, there is that small glimmer of hope that perhaps this verdict will be a sign of change for our country.  Though I may be looking at this life through rose-colored glasses, I still pray that someday things would be better. 

All I can do is dream.  All I can do is hope.

Photo Source: INQUIRER.net

A Son and a Daughter

My heart bleeds for Geraldine Palma and Cris Mendez. 

Just last month, a little daughter and a  young son, with promising futures ahead of them, were killed by violence. They left this world, too soon, too painful.  

Geraldine Palma was a seven-year old girl who was kidnapped for ransom but ended up raped, choked to death and stuffed in a suitcase.  She was found days after she was killed. 

Cris Mendez, a 20-year old graduating student from the University of the Philippines was pronounced dead on arrival at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.  He was a victim of hazing during initiation rites of the Sigma Rho Fraternity. 

Young.  They were both so young. Imagine the pain their parents went through upon learning of their deaths.  Imagine the EXCRUCIATING pain they went through when they learned their child's life ended violently.  Especially Geraldine Palma. Damn! She was only seven.  So innocent and pure. How she suffered in the hands of those MONSTERS. My heart cannot take the cruelty and the ignominy of it all.  

I echo the statement of Geraldine's cousin  in her LiveJournal entry  :

"I have no pity for those that harm children. Burn in hell."

I'm not a mother.  The closest state I am to motherhood is being the dotting aunt to my nephew Hendrich.  I love my nephew to pieces. I try my best to nurture him and make him happy.  He is a sweet and jolly child who fills my life with brightness and love.  I could just imagine how this feeling I have is magnified a hundred times especially for a parent to his or her child.  Geraldine must have brought a lot of moments of joy to her parents.  She was a beautiful child.  Cris must be his parents hope and pride. Gosh, a UP student.  Bright kid.  Imagine all those wonderful moments he has given to his parents. 

Children are gifts from God.  They should grow up, lead fruitful lives  and be the support of their parents in their old age. They SHOULD not die ahead of their parents. They SHOULD not die violent deaths.

For the people whose lives were touched by these two souls, they will have to deal with painful memories. And the rest of us have to live with the thought how scum such as Geraldine's rapists-killers and Cris' murderers still roam the earth. 

I say a fervent prayer for Geraldine and Cris.  May justice prevail for them. 

That's the least this world could do. 

Photos from:  ABS-CBN Interactive  and Cris Mendez' Friendster Page  

Remembering My Uncle Edwin

All Soul's Day. Every time this day arrives only one dearly departed comes to mind. My Uncle Edwin. He was my mom's brother who died in 1985 at the age of 35 due to complications of pneumonia. He died young.  Almost the same age as I am now. But rather than dwell on the sadness of his fate, I choose to remember him with fondness.

My Uncle Edwin was gay. And like most gay men (think Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) he was a person of good taste. He was a stylish man, with stylish tastes. He was always fashionably dressed. He listened to pop, R & B and jazz music and had a passion for Hollywood films and American TV shows.

He lived with my family when I was still in elementary. Perhaps, for most of my childhood, he was there. One of my fondest memories of my uncle was during the early 80's when we would sit and watch tv together. While my dad and other uncles were into PBA and Fernando Poe,Jr, we were into Charlie's Angels, Three's Company, and Little House on the Prairie. While my mom or uncles would take me to watch Tito,Vic & Joey and Chiquito films, my Uncle Edwin would take me to watch Superman II. I remember someone picked his pocket in the moviehouse then, and we had to hitch a ride home on a public bus.

Though we may not look alike, (he was tall and lanky, while I'm short and frumpy), I take after him. We have the same tastes in music and films. (He taught me to listen to Mellow Touch and KB 89.1 ) We have a penchant for drawing. (He is the only one in my family, aside from myself, who can draw), plus we are both quiet and animated at the same time.

He was a man of style. He used to cut and style my hair and gave me fashion advice. Suffice it to say, when I was growing up, he was the "cool" uncle. In fact, he was the coolest person I know.

It has been twenty years since he died. I miss him saying 'flanggana' (swardspeak for 'yes') when he agrees with me. And the way he calls his friends 'jokla' over the phone. I miss the times when I would help him clean the house to the tune of disco music. (Imagine polishing the floor with a coconut husk to the tune of Funky Town). Perhaps, if he was alive, we would be both crazy over Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City. We would be painting the town red. He would perhaps be my personal hairstylist and I'd always get the perfect haircut because I would not hesitate in arguing with him in order to achieve the perfect look.

Come to think of it. He is the only person outside my nuclear family that interests me. When he died, I lost interest in mingling with my other "kamag-anaks". And they didn't particularly get me, actually. Most of them are not a multi-dimensional as my Uncle Edwin. 

I hope he is in a happy place.

You are sorely missed, Uncle Edwin.

Wherever you may be. 

*first posted in an old blog on November 3, 2005

Mcbeal’s Top Ten Romantic Movies

Nothing beats a great romantic movie to chase those blues away.  To those who are in love, out of love or who just can't get their love life together, grab a tub of popcorn and cans of soda and to hell with it, treat yourself to that saccharine world of romantic movies. 

I haven't seen a real good chick flick lately. Thus I decided to list my top favorites in random order. 

1. An Affair to Remember

I love old American movies. I love their nostalgic, classic feel.  A great chick flick from a half century ago would definitely be An Affair to Remember.   Starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, this movie was widely referenced in the movie Sleepless in Seattle.  It was actually a remake of a 1930s film, "Love Affair" and then remade into 1994's Love Story starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.  It tells the story of an engaged playboy (Grant) who meets a smart, lounge singer (Kerr) on a cruise. Both are romantically involved  but nevertheless fall in love by the time  the ship set  port  in New York.  They vow to meet again, six months later, on top of the Empire State Building to get married. 

Best quotes: 

Terry McKay (Kerr): Oh, it's nobody's fault but my own! I was looking up… it was the nearest thing to heaven! You were there…

Favorite scene:

It has to be the ending when Nick discovers the real reason why Terry did not make it to their meeting place.  

2. Breakfast At Tiffany's

 The movie is an unlikely love story between a complicated  party girl and  an unsuccessful writer.   Both are beautiful yet obviously flawed people.  She's a wannabe socialite who wants to marry rich, he, a writer trying to find his words while being a kept man. How they found love and redemption with each other is the heart of the film. 

 Best Quotes:

Paul Varjak: I love you.
Holly Golightly: So what.
Paul Varjak: So what? So plenty! 

Favorite Scene: That kiss in the rain.  

3. Sleepless in Seattle

Does anyone still believe in the magic of true love? Apparently Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) and Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) did. He's an architect who is recently widowed and moved to Seattle, she's an engaged reporter from Baltimore. Annie chances upon Sam when he went on air during a radio show where he described the magic he felt when he fell in love with his wife. Annie feels an attachment to this person, whom she has never met.  She falls in love with him and risks a sure future marriage to meet the man who COULD be her destiny.       

Best Quotes:

Doctor Marcia Fieldstone: Tell me what was so special about your wife?

Sam Baldwin: Well, how long is your program? Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together… and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home… only to no home I'd ever known… I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like… magic. 

Favorite Scene:

That last scene at the top of the Empire State Building. Magic!  

4. A Walk in the Clouds

A man in search. A woman in need. A story of fate. Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) is a war hero and a door to door candy salesman, during his trip to Napa Valley in California, he accidentally meets Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón), a Stanford student who belongs to a Mexican-descent family which owns a vineyard.. Victoria was at that time pregnant and Paul offers to masquerade himself as her husband to the very traditionalist family – especially her raging father Alberto – and leave the day after. Instead, he stays one more day – supposedly for the grape harvest – and more, until they eventually fall in love.

Favorite Scene:

When Victoria and Paul were crushing grapes and the hell of the kiss they shared after that. ^__^ 

Best Quote:

Paul Sutton: She's like the air to me.  

5.  A Walk To Remember

Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same title, A Walk to Remember is my epitome of  finding love while death looms. Landon Carter (Shane West) is a very popular yet troubled senior while Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) is the quiet, unpopular, preacher's daughter. Two people who belonged to opposite sides of the spectrum but as their paths crossed, they fell for each other. Just when they found true love with each other, Jamie confesses to Landon that she is dying of leukemia. 

Best Quote:

Jamie saved my life. She taught me everything. About life, hope and the long journey ahead. I'll always miss her. But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it.

Favorite Scene: 

When Landon whisks Jamie away after she was mocked and jeered by the entire school. 

6.  50 First Dates

Henry Roth (Adam Sandler), a marine veterinarian meets Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore) in a cafe and they develop a relationship. However, it soon emerges that Lucy suffers from a kind of amnesia due to a car accident, rendering her incapable of forming new long term memories. Her condition leaves her with no memory of anything between the day of the accident and the present, due to the fact that she cannot convert short-term memories into long-term memories as she sleeps.  Thus, their love story is quite complicated as Henry finds himself starting over from square one every day. This is my favorite Sandler-Barrymore collaboration, although The Wedding Singer is a cool chick flick too.

Best Quote:

Henry: You're the woman of my dreams and apparently, I'm the man in yours.

Favorite Scene:

Not that romantic but the scene where Lucy was hitting Ula with a bat was SOOO hilarious.  

7. Notting Hill

 A love affair between a famous Hollywood actress and an obscure travel bookshop owner from Notting Hill.  You can never get any more romantic than that.  The love between Anna Scott and William Thacker is what fairy tales are made of.  This movie is pure saccharine and funny, one can't help but fall madly in love. 

Favorite Scene:

The Press Conference at The Savoy

Best Quote: (What else!) I'm just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.  

8. While You Were Sleeping

This is by far, my most favored of all Sandra Bullock movies.  It's the story of lonely, token booth worker named Lucy and her unrequited love for a handsome yuppie (Peter Gallagher) which later blossoms into true love for the latter's brother (Bill Pullman).  The movie shows that love comes from the most unexpected places and how the love of one man and his family, can cure the loneliest heart. 

Favorite Scene:

The Wedding  of Lucy and Peter 

Best Quote:

Lucy: Peter once asked me when I fell in love with Jack. And I told him, "It was while you were sleeping."  

9. Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones's Diary provides that glimmer of hope that even if you're overweight, thirty-something and an absolute klutz, you can still find love in the arms of a dashing barrister (even if his sideburns are too long). I see myself a lot in Bridget Jones (Renee Zellwegger), a woman with her own demons and far from perfect.  You just want to root for her to find the perfect guy.  Good thing she found him, in the most unexpected person.  And by golly! Don't you just love Colin Firth as Mark Darcy!

Favorite Scene:

When Mark helped Bridget cook her birthday dinner.

Another favorite scene because I so get Bridget:

When Lara said: "I thought you said she was thin."

Best quote:

Mark Darcy: I don't think you're an idiot at all. I mean, there are elements of the ridiculous about you. Your mother's pretty interesting. And you really are an appallingly bad public speaker. And, um, you tend to let whatever's in your head come out of your mouth without much consideration of the consequences… But the thing is, um, what I'm trying to say, very inarticulately, is that, um, in fact, perhaps despite appearances, I like you, very much. Just as you are.  

10. City of Angels  

Just like everyone, I hated the ending of this movie.  But I list it as one of the best romantic movies because of the fact that an angel named Seth (Nicolas Cage) gave up immortality for the love of a woman (Meg Ryan as Dr. Maggie Rice). This fact speaks of the enormous love he has for her.  The movie is magical with its ironic, almost poetic ending. 

Favorite Scene:

That first and last night

Best Quote:

Seth: I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it. One.  

Malu Fernandez’ Taste of Humble Pie

Just a few moments ago, ABS-CBN's TV Patrol World did a report on the Malu Fernandez OFW issue. Apparently, Fernandez has posted a proper apology on the issue which I am quoting verbatim: 

Statement from Malu Fernandez on the OFW Controversy

I am humbled by the vehement and heated response provoked by my article entitled 'From Boracay to Greece!' which came out in the June 2007 issue of People Asia. To say that this article was not meant to malign, hurt or express prejudice against the OFWs now sounds hollow after reading through all the blogs from Filipinos all over the world. I am deeply apologetic for my insensitivity and the offensive manner in which this article was written, I hear you all and I am properly rebuked. It was truly not my intention to malign hurt or express prejudice against OFWs.

I take full responsibility for my actions and my friends and family have nothing to do with this. To date I have submitted my resignation letters to both the Manila Standard and People Asia, on that note may this matter be laid to rest.

 Evidently, Fernandez had a huge chunk of humble pie.  Good for her. It's good to know that under all that make-up and expensive accessories, there's a human being after all.  I'm glad that after reading all the violent reactions in the blogging world, she isn't that thick-skinned not to feel anything.  Finally, she had the sense not to fan the flames and like a mature and presumably educated person, she took responsibility for her actions.  That's the mark of true wisdom, taking accountability for one's actions.  The statement is indeed a far cry from her initial bitchy retort.  Personally, if she apologized in the first place rather than questioned the lack of common sense of those offended, this issue would not have blown up in her face.  But it did. And as the Filipino cliché goes: Nasa huli ang pagsisisi. 

It's a wonder how one moment of insensitivity could destroy a person's reputation, one's good name. And with Fernandez, instead of being known for her wit, she became famous in the blogging world for her bigotry.  This is the reality of life, we indeed reap what we sow.  In Fernandez' case, she sowed the seeds of hate and reaped a harvest of attacks on her appearance and character.  

Make no mistake, I do not condone her acts of bigotry.  But I can somehow empathize what she may be feeling when she read those statements of bigotry  and discrimination against  her  plus size figure.  Being full-figured  myself, it  would DEFINITELY hurt when people call you names  such as "Miss Piggy", "Baboy", "Dabiana", "Balyena".  I remember confronting  a sampaguita vendor when I refused, quite  politely,  his offer of the garlands.  The little brat called me "baboy" .  I  ran after him (cause even though I'm plump, I'm quite light on my feet ^__^)  and  gave him a stern lecture on his rudeness and my right as a consumer. Contrary  to popular belief, we full-figured  people have a lot of insecurities  in life, which I AM  SURE, Fernandez has too.  Thus, to  read those  attacks  on her  appearance ,  it is evident that she  got a taste of her own medicine and more.  

I'm sure in due time this issue will die a natural death. Most of us who reacted will eventually forget about Malu Fernandez too.  However, as for Fernandez, such will not be the case.  What she did caused her reputation, two jobs and most likely her self-esteem.   She'll be licking a lot of wounds for a long time. 

Who would have thought a taste of humble pie could be this costly.  

The Blogging World vs. Malu Fernandez

        Malu Fernandez, a lifestyle columnist for Manila Standard Today, authored an article published in the June 2007 issue of People Asia Magazine.  In the article, From Boracay to Greece, Fernandez chronicles her summer trip to Boracay and Greece.  Innocent enough, as the title suggests a travelogue.  But who would have thought such an innocently-titled entry for her column would earn the ire of a great number of Filipino bloggers. While on its surface, she shares her experiences about the trip, she rather succeeds in showing bigotry against OFWs (Overseas  Filipino Workers).  Her article insulted a class of hard-working people who are supposedly lauded as today's heroes. 

Here are the controversial excerpts from that article:

    "However I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them."

    "All in all, it’s been a pretty good summer. Jetting from the Aegean Sea to the Pacific may sound a bit pretentious until you wake up in economy class smelling like air freshener."

Here are scans of the article (Click thumbnails for larger view):

     Apparently, a few hate mails reached People Asia and Manila Standard Today that Fernandez wrote a response.  True, she did not win points with her previous article but talk about digging your own grave of faux pas: 

     "As I type this, I’d like you to know that it’s not about whining, complaining and bitching but just stating the facts. Just recently, I wrote a funny article in my magazine column and my friends thought it was hilarious. It was humorous and quite tongue-in-cheek, or at least I thought so, until the magazine got a few e-mails from people who didn’t get the meaning of my acerbic wit. The bottom line was just that I had offended the reader’s socioeconomic background. If any of these people actually read anything thicker then a magazine they would find it very funny. Most people don’t get the fact that they need bitches like me to shake up their world, otherwise their lives would be boring and mediocre. I obviously write for the a certain target audience and if what I write offends you, just stop reading.

    "Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabes. One group will never get the culture of the other. Although I could mention that it is easier to understand someone who has a lower socioeconomic background that would entail a whole other page and frankly I don’t want to be someone to bridge the gap between socioeconomic classes. I leave that to the politicians in my family who believe they can actually help. Now I seriously ask you, am I being a diva or are people around me just lacking in common sense? Perhaps it’s a little of both!"

I consider myself a sensible person, fairly intelligent and modesty aside, quite well read.  But I CANNOT for the life of me find her take on OFWs humorous. Perhaps, a lowly middle-class, government employee who still rides jeepneys to work like I do cannot appreciate such "acerbic" wit.  Perhaps, the fact that I have two brothers-in-law who are OFWs, have dwindled my appreciation for her so-called humor.  Giving an account of passengers who annoyed you on a flight is one thing,  but to insult an entire class is another. Oh my, I have to agree with a post from a forumer that she is indeed  Rizal's Doña Victorina in the flesh!

I pity her attempts on being supposedly witty.  She only succeeded in showing what she truly values in life: Money.  If she thinks that her wealth makes her better than OFWs, and the lower and middle class for that matter, then poor corrupted soul. Wake up bitch! The masses outnumber you.  We may just eat you alive. *Evil laugh*

It is true that money can't really buy you CLASS. What she did was SOOOO Un-Jackie O.  She may have had a horrifying flight but please! she should have just bitched about it with her friends.  She committed a social blunder when she wrote an article about it for the public to see and was successful in coming across as a pretentious, social climber and a shallow one at that.   Presumably, she may have been educated in a catholic school, as most rich people are, but obviously lessons in humility and empathy for fellowmen didn't sink well.  The little girl grew up to be a pompous snob who finds happiness in belittling others. Poor corrupted soul indeed.

You should read the bashing she got in the blogging world.  Wildfire!  While quite a number insulted or questioned her intelligence, most took the low blows by insulting her looks and her size even to the extent of threatening to make a roast pig out of her. I personally do not appreciate such comments as they are forms of discrimination too.  (Discrimination against people of size is no different from discrimination against OFWs) To do so would stoop to Fernandez' dim-witted level.

In this latest entry  from the blog: TINGOG.COM, blogger Nick calls for her removal as columnist and a proper public apology from her.  To a certain extent, it would give me great pleasure to see her sacked! Wala na syang pambili ng Jo Malone. 

While we are protected by the freedom of speech as guaranteed by our Constitution, I take the stand that Fernandez should take responsibility for what she wrote.  With the freedom of speech comes responsibility.  Bigotry, in all its forms, should NOT be tolerated. That's what you are, Ms. Fernandez, a BIGOT (no pun intended), you are no different from the members of the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazis.  You should be taught a lesson, dear, coupled with a meal of humble pie.  Your editors should also join you.  They are equally guilty.  

As of this writing, it is evident that the blogging world is still active in its hate campaign against Fernandez.  She has become the most maligned and despised elitist. It's quite hilarious really, seeing her being torn apart limb by limb.  I wonder how she feels about the personal attacks on her body and character.  

One thing for sure, I hate to be in her Manolo Blahniks right now.